unusual, but not unexpected, evolutionary step taken by syrphid flies: the first record of true primary parasitoidism of ants by Microdontinae

Parasitoidism of ants by flies is known only for Phoridae and Tachinidae. We report the first record of a hoverfly (Syrphidae, Microdontinae, Hypselosyrphus) acting as a true primary parasitoid of ants. Previously, larvae of Microdontinae were known only as obligate predators of ant brood. This is a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological journal of the Linnean Society 2014-02, Vol.111 (2), p.462-472
Main Authors: Pérez‐Lachaud, Gabriela, Jervis, Mark A, Reemer, Menno, Lachaud, Jean‐Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adults
Aechmea
Aechmea bracteata
Animal biology
bromeliad
cocoons
Diptera
Ecology, environment
Formicidae
Hypselosyrphus
larvae
life history
Life Sciences
Mexico
Microdontinae
nesting
Pachycondyla
Pachycondyla villosa
parasitoid
parasitoids
Phoridae
ponerine
predators
prepupae
Symbiosis
Syrphidae
Tachinidae
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Summary:Parasitoidism of ants by flies is known only for Phoridae and Tachinidae. We report the first record of a hoverfly (Syrphidae, Microdontinae, Hypselosyrphus) acting as a true primary parasitoid of ants. Previously, larvae of Microdontinae were known only as obligate predators of ant brood. This is also the first host record for any Hypselosyrphus species, the first reliable record of an association between a syrphid fly and a ponerine ant, and the first record of a dipteran parasitoid developing upon the immature stages of ants. We reared adults of Hypselosyrphus trigonus from cocoons of the arboreal ponerine ant, Pachycondyla villosa, nesting in Aechmea bracteata bromeliads in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, and we succeeded in determining various aspects of the parasitoid's life history. The findings obtained in the present study provide novel insights into the evolutionary transformation and diversification of the feeding habits of microdontine syrphid larvae, from an obligatory, specific predatory association with the ant brood, to parasitoidism of ant prepupae. We also highlight the need for more detailed studies of the interactions of arboreal ants and their parasites. We conclude with an overview of the evolutionary transitions and diversification of larval feeding habits that have taken place within the family Syrphidae. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 111, 462–472.
ISSN:0024-4066
1095-8312
DOI:10.1111/bij.12220